Gabriela Cowperthwaite, left, director of the controversial documentary “Blackfish,” told Point Loma High students to draw their own conclusions about the treatment of killer whales in captivity. SeaWorld officials have issued a strong pushback about the accuracy of the documentary. DAVE SCHWAB

Point Loma High School (PLHS) students continued their crusade to convince SeaWorld to stop using marine animals for entertainment, cutting another public-service announcement to invite the local theme park to provide its side of the story regarding the treatment of killer whales portrayed in the documentary “Blackfish,” a controversial documentary that aired recently on CNN.

Although SeaWorld San Diego officials have strongly decried the accuracy of the documentary and defended their animal-care practices in a pushback to the “Blackfish” program, they were invited — but did not participate — in the panel discussion.

“Blackfish” explores the 2010 accidental death of SeaWorld’s Dawn Brancheau, trainer of the orca Tilikum, and is critical of keeping killer whales in captivity and using them to perform in shows. The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2013, then went mainstream in October when it was featured on CNN and became the subject of several CNN news features.

Though they declined to participate in the PLHS panel discussion, SeaWorld officials issued the following statement: “As we responded a few weeks ago to the filmmaker’s debate challenge, we have no interest in helping promote a film this dishonest and manipulative,” said SeaWorld San Diego spokesman Dave Koontz.

“Our position has not changed,” continued the statement. “We did not receive any specific invitation from the school regarding today’s screenings. We would like to thank Kearny High School for inviting us to provide a SeaWorld presentation to their students last week. We applaud the school’s desire to provide its students information on both sides of the issue to help them make a more informed decision. It’s unfortunate that we did not receive invitations from the other schools to provide a SeaWorld presentation to their students.”

During the Feb. 3 panel discussion, Cowperthwaite described herself as a “mom who’d taken her children to visit Sea World,” saying she didn’t set out with any preconceived notions or to do an expose on the marine park.

“I was making a documentary about trainers and their relationships with apex [top] predators, almost a philosophical film,” Cowperthwaite said. “It wasn’t going to be controversial.”

But as she delved deeper into the story, “I began peeling back the onion and started to realize, shockingly, the truth,” Cowperthwaite said.

Marine biologist Dr. Toni Frohoff said scientists “have an obligation when we find dolphins and whales we’re studying are dying and languishing in captivity to speak out. It’s not a matter of being animal-rights activists. It’s a matter of scientists being responsible to populations of animals and the habitats they live in.”

Asked if “Blackfish” has caused SeaWorld to make any changes in its business model, Cowperthwaite replied, “We sometimes hear rumblings that they might be changing the environment of the sea lion pool or making nicer waterfalls. [But] so far, they’re standing their ground, saying they’re proud of their history and to look at all the good things they do [animal rescues, conservation, public education].”

Cowperwaite likened challenging SeaWorld’s business model to “poking the dragon.”

“Nobody’s talked about any of these things [orca treatment] for 40 years,” Cowperthwaite said.

She added that she and others challenging Sea World’s methods are being branded by some as “crazy activist scientists.”

“The Kids Eco Club teaches environmentalism and this is a really big issue, and we thought it was important for kids to hear both sides of the argument so they can decide who’s right or wrong,” said Guinn, when asked why he organized the “Blackfish” panel discussion.

Frohoff said orcas in the wild are “some of the most peaceful of all social species,” adding she felt captivity may cause some of them to become stressed and “pathological.”

Frohoff said it’s impractical to try and take orcas that have lived their entire lives in captivity and unleash them into the wild where they wouldn’t know how to take care of themselves without human care. But there might be a middle ground, she suggested, through the creation of “sanctuaries,” fenced-off, more natural habitats where people could observe them, but where orcas and other marine mammals wouldn’t be forced to perform like circus animals for human entertainment.

A student asked Cowperthwaite who they should believe in the orca debate — SeaWorld or their critics.

“Don’t trust either of us,” she said. “Go and do your own research. I want to encourage you all to do your own critical thinking.”

It amazes me that Sea World lies about their mammals when any sixth grader can google information on how long orcas live in the wild, how many captives have produced young (we don't break up families, HAH) and how many miles they swim daily.

And then they claim the Blackfish film is lying. BUT YOU CAN LOOK THIS STUFF UP! It's obvious who the liars are.

I too was a mom who took her children to SeaWorld. Never again. And more importantly, my children will never take their children to SeaWorld. Killer whales do not belong in swimming pools for our entertainment. The only reason they are there is so SeaWorld can make money. I promise you, it is not for the betterment of the whales and dolphins. It is for greed, plain and simple. I beg SeaWorld (Blackstone) to open seaside sanctuaries for the eventual release of these mammals. I, like many others, would pay to visit these creatures in the natural environment. SeaWorld could make money from both the SeaWorld property and from the seaside location. Win-win for everyone. Do the right thing!!

Dr Lori Moreno recently gave a presentation of her empirical findings of marine mammals in captivity. Seaworld representatives were present at this lecture, given at the Southern California Marine Mammal workshop at Newport Beach on 1st February.

It was unequivocally clear, based on empirical scientific evidence, and for numerous reasons, that marine mammals do not, indeed cannot, THRIVE in captivity.

It is frustrating to ethical scientists such as Dr Naomi Rose and others, that SeaWorld repeatedly refutes this evidence and fails to acknowledge it. The reason they do so is because they are making at present around $2 billion profit a year from fooling the general public that what they are doing is some kind of science.

In addition, SeaWorld encourages other nations such as China and Russia to take threatened marine mammals from the wild (many of whom are still weaning from their mothers) and indirectly gets marine mammals from the wild through using middle-men.

It is now up to the public to do their own research about this behemoth corporation and until they do so, I hope one can find alternatives to supporting the torture of highly evolved marine mammals such as Tilikum. This whale is now dying at Orlando SeaPark and is effectively buried alive.

SeaWorld claim they are giving him plenty of enrichments in his daily life - but it's just more puff...